By Tayla Dillon

New South Wales runner Rick Patzold will return to this year’s Gold Coast Airport Marathon, to be held 2 – 3 July, with the goal of becoming only the eighth Australian to run 200 official marathons.

The Gold Coast Airport Marathon holds a special place in the heart of the 51-year-old Albion Park local as it’s the event where he accomplished his 100th marathon just four years ago.

In addition to his love for sport and keeping fit, Rick’s inspiration for running such lengths comes from his late mother, who passed away due to cervical cancer when he was 13.

“I won the Year 7 cross country and I just knew how proud Mum was. That was the year before she died,” Rick said.

“Running was my escape in getting away from home and not seeing Mum in pain. I was running away from the pain.

“The whole reason why I run, no matter what I experience during a marathon, I know the pain will never be as bad as what Mum experienced.”

Rick is showing no signs of slowing down as he prepares for his 200th marathon.

“It’s such a great area to run, obviously for the prestige, but it’s nice to say I’ve run both my 100th and 200th here,” he said.

“This marathon will be really special to me.”

In 2001, at the age of 36, Rick began competing in marathons. Over the next 11 years, he reached his first major milestone of 100 marathons. Only four years later, he has astoundingly been able to reach his 200th marathon.

“In the beginning, I started with 13 kilometres, four times a week. I ran that same course over a three-year-period, 692 times,” he said.

“I had three years to get ready to compete for my first marathon.”

Rick has proven to be exceptionally determined in smashing his goals, after holding the Australian record for the most marathons in a calendar year for the past three consecutive years.

“In 2012, the pinnacle of my year was running 17 marathons. I then proceeded to run 23 in 2013, 27 in 2014, and then 30 in 2015. That was my proudest day, after making it through with a two centimetre Achilles tear,” Rick said.

Not only is Rick eyeing off his 200th marathon this July, but he is also aiming for a desired time of 3 hours and 29 minutes.

Early bird fees for the 2016 Gold Coast Airport Marathon will close Thursday 28 April (11:59 AEST).